LingoflyFractions, multiples and comparison: ބައިކުޅަ, ގުނަ, ވުރެ
A fraction is read the other way round: the denominator first, then the service word ބައިކުޅަ, then the numerator. ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (thinbaikulha ehbai) — a third, literally "of three parts one part". ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (hatharubaikulha ehbai) — a quarter. For example: “ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭ” (klaahuge thinbaikulha ehbai naadhey) — A third of the class did not come. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
A fraction is read the other way round: the denominator first, then the service word ބައިކުޅަ, then the numerator. ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (thinbaikulha ehbai) — a third, literally "of three parts one part". ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (hatharubaikulha ehbai) — a quarter.
Half and one-and-a-half are words of their own: ބައި (bai) and ދޮޅު (dholhu). ދޮޅު (dholhu) ގަޑިއިރު (gadiiru) (dholhu gadiiru) — "an hour and a half". Beyond one and a half the row stops.
Multiples are assembled with the word ގުނަ (guna): ދެގުނަ (dheguna) — twice, ތިންގުނަ (thinguna) — three times, ދިހަ ގުނަ (dhiha guna) — ten times over.
Comparison rests on ވުރެ (vure), and it stands AFTER what you compare with: އަހަރެންނަށްވުރެ ދިގު (dhigu) — "taller than me". The quality has no comparative form of its own: ބޮޑު (bodu) is both "big" and "bigger".
Table
| the turn | how it is assembled | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| a fraction | the denominator + ބައިކުޅަ + the numerator | ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (thinbaikulha ehbai) | a third |
| a fraction | the same | ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (hatharubaikulha ehbai) | a quarter |
| one and a half | a separate word | ދޮޅު (dholhu) ގަޑިއިރު (gadiiru) | one and a half hours |
| multiples | a number + ގުނަ (guna) | ތިންގުނަ (thinguna) | three times |
| comparison | a noun + -އަށްވުރެ + the quality | އަހަރެންނަށްވުރެ ދިގު (dhigu) | taller than me |
| the superlative | އެންމެ (enme) + the quality | އެންމެ (enme) މަތީ (mathee) | the topmost |
By example
- ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭklaahuge thinbaikulha ehbai naadheyA third of the class did not come
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Fractions, multiples and comparison: how does it work in Maldivian?
A fraction is read the other way round: the denominator first, then the service word ބައިކުޅަ, then the numerator. ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (thinbaikulha ehbai) — a third, literally "of three parts one part". ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (hatharubaikulha ehbai) — a quarter.
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭ” (klaahuge thinbaikulha ehbai naadhey) — A third of the class did not come. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.